Durham County Department of Public Health Named Health Department of the Year
DURHAM, NC – The Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) was recognized as the Health Department of the Year at the 2024 North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA) Fall Educational Conference. The prestigious Dr. Sarah Taylor Morrow Health Department of the Year award was given to DCoDPH for its outstanding community health programs and initiatives, particularly through the work of the Partnership for a Healthy Durham, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The Partnership for a Healthy Durham brings together hundreds of community members and organizations across sectors such as healthcare, housing, education, food access, and transportation, united by a shared goal of improving health and equity in Durham County. The Partnership leads key efforts like the annual State of the County Health Report and the Community Health Assessment (CHA), which highlight health needs and inform policy decisions in the county.
DCoDPH has earned multiple Awards of Excellence* from the North Carolina Division of Public Health for the quality and collaborative approach of its 2017, 2020, and 2023 CHA reports. In 2022, the Partnership received a $750,000, five-year grant from The Duke Endowment to implement evidence-based initiatives to improve chronic conditions, increase physical activity, and enhance food access while prioritizing racial equity.
“We couldn’t be more proud for NCPHA to have recognized our collaborative work in the community through the Partnership for a Healthy Durham and beyond,” said Health Director Dr. Rod Jenkins. “This award represents the outstanding work being done here at the Durham County Department of Public Health through the Partnership for a Healthy Durham and with several agencies we work with throughout Durham. We know that we could not fully serve our community without our partnerships with these agencies and organizations, so we are proud to be honored as Health Department of the Year, highlighting the achievements of this essential collaborative work.”
The Health Department of the Year award celebrates DCoDPH’s commitment to improving community health through collaboration, innovation, and a focus on equity.
Photo courtesy of Durham County Department of Public Health